SNV

Position: Advisor - Mini-Grid Development Fund

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posted date: 2 minutes ago

Application Deadline: Nov, 13/2021 (9 days left)

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in more than 26 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV, Netherlands Development Organization, is operating in Ethiopia since the 1970s. Currently, SNV is working in eight regional states and the two city administrations of Ethiopia, providing technical assistance and program implementation in Agriculture, WASH, and Energy Sectors. SNV is an open and learning organization that focuses on improving the lives of Ethiopians through a market-based approach inclusive of women and youth. In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change including strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects.

Project Overview: 

DREAM Ethiopia project is the agriculture-driven Mini-grids for Increased Productivity and Energy Access in Ethiopia. The project is funded by Rockefeller Foundation with a duration of 1.5 years. The project aims to pilot nine agriculture-driven private sector mini-grids in Ethiopia which are primed to scale through investments from the World Bank (WB), African Development Bank (AFDB) and European Investment Bank (EIB). The project will be implemented across three regions in Ethiopia (Oromia, Amhara and SNNP), which is expected to impact an estimated 11,500 people (2,500 households), 1,545 hectares of irrigated farmland, seven schools, three health clinics/outposts, and many small enterprises making this the largest mini-grid powered irrigation project in Africa.

The project will focus on the management of Mini-grid Development Fund (MDF) to support nine agriculture-driven private sector mini-grids in Ethiopia; community and farmer engagement on PUE beyond irrigation & e-mobility, to support demand activation and contribution to the viability of the mini-grids; knowledge Management to support overall pilot learnings, evaluation and dissemination of results and lessons learned and sector Collaboration and coordination with project partners and service providers

Summary of the Job: 

The MDF Advisor is expected to closely follow up the use of the allocated mini-grid development fund that is mainly allocated as CAPEX grant to mini-grid developers. This includes the design, establishment, and implementation of a grant mechanism to effectively support private sector-led mini-grids in Ethiopia, following a competitive application and selection process that provides CAPEX grants through Catalytic Grants (CG) and Results-Based Financing (RBF), as well as Technical Assistance, supports for community and farmer engagement by the mini-grid operators. The main aim of the MDF is to establish an initial basis to further develop the mini-grid market in Ethiopia, assisting companies to grow and continue to attract private capital for sustained impact.

Key Responsibilities: 

• The MDF advisor is responsible for formulating the design process of the MDF including operational guidelines and application formats.
• plan and execute the grant-making process by closely working with the finance team, and grantees to make sure the process is mutually beneficial for them and the grant-making organization.  
• MDF launch; bid lot proposal (technical & financial) proposal intake, assessment, selection and contracting; mini-grid site-specific submission and contracting; procurement assessment and facilitation (via RF DART) for MG components; mini-grid site progress tracking & advisory support; grantee performance and timeline management including results reporting and associated performance-based disbursement management.  
• The MDF grant advisor will work in line with SNV standards, SNV`s approach to project management, and donor regulations, in order to achieve high-quality operation of the MDF and achieve the agreed results and deliverables of the DREAM project.

Qualifications

• Must have Master's Degree in Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Energy Management, or another relevant discipline.
• Must have substantial experience (at least 10 years) in development work & grant management including screening and selection of grantees with 3 years of combined experience in the management of Milestone based grant awards and/or RBF mechanisms

Required Competency:

• At least 6 years of practical experience in donor-funded grant management and market development
• Demonstrated ability and experience of managing grants in a market based or entrepreneurship development in solar renewable energy technologies and/or decentralized power generation,
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and verification of contract deliverables by grantees
• Knowledge management and the use of online data management platforms
• Following compliance standards in accordance with government regulations and donor requirements
• Experience supporting the development of opportunities for female and youth entrepreneurs via gender and socially inclusive approaches in rural contexts
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, necessary to successfully implement the MDF
• Ability to incorporate or work with local organizations and actors in accordance with relevant Ethiopian context
• Review and distribute financial reports that both funders and grantees need to track their progress.
• Excellent computer skills with demonstrated experience in the use of accounting software
• Full professional proficiency in spoken and written English

Additional Information

Contract Type: National

Expected start date: As soon as possible

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contract Duration: 1.5 years with possible extension based on performance and budget availability. 

Working at SNV 

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package; for internationals, we offer an international benefits package and to Ethiopian nationals, we offer a competitive national package. We also offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts.

How to apply

Please apply by clicking on the Apply button and completing your application in our in-house recruitment system before or on 13 November 2021.

NB: All information will be in the strictest confidence and in accordance with GDPR. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people who are willing to act as a referee. We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission. Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

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